Zhitomirski, Alexander Matveyevich

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ZHITOMIRSKI, ALEXANDER MATVEYEVICH

ZHITOMIRSKI, ALEXANDER MATVEYEVICH (1881–1937), composer. Born in Kherson, Crimea, Zhitomirski studied violin with Mlynarsky in Odessa (1892–97) and with Prill in Vienna (1898–1900), where he also studied composition and piano. He graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1910, and from 1915 to 1937 he taught there the theory of composition (from 1919 as professor). Among his students were such outstanding musicians as Andrey Balanchivadze, Mikhail Chulaki, Alexander Gauk, Khristofor Kushnarev, Alexander Melik-Pashaev, and Mikhail Yudin. His works include Symphonic Poem (1915); Heroic Poem for orchestra (1933); a violin concerto (1937); a string quartet (1927); Elegy for cello and piano; and songs to Russian, Yiddish, and French words. He was a member of the Society for Jewish Folk Music and collaborated with S. Kiselgov and P. Lvov in the publication of the Society's Lider Zamlbukh (1911, 19142).

[M. Rizarev (2nd ed.)]